Butchering single chicken without cone, needing advice

[humblehillsfarm]

^^^ resting, for days, is a great recommend. I shoot for four days, actually. Gives you time to really consider your recipe plans.

and who doesn't love Pizza??? (Actually, a pizza w/ chicken, red onions, feta, green pepper, olives, and artichoke hearts, a bit of fresh basil...) OK, you don't need much chicken for that, and using dark meat helps ensure it stays moist in the heat of the oven. So, its a way of stretching that last thigh into a full meal.

and splitting the bird, then laying flat to help assure even cooking and browning? That's "spatchcocking". A technique which should be employed much more often than it is. Good call.

I knew it was called spatchcock cooking but most people don’t seem to be familiar with the term. Silly of me to assume folks on a chicken forum wouldn’t know . When we processed CX chickens (a neighbor killed them we just gutted), it took four days for rigor Mortis to pass. I don’t work F-sun so that’s why I wanted to process today and roast Sunday. I am really hoping that the stiffness has passed by then!

 

[bobbi-j]

Good for you for getting the job done! We have raised chickens for over 30 years, and I have yet to kill one myself. DH was raised on the farm where we live and grew up processing chickens. He uses the hatchet and stump method. I’d probably lose a limb if I tried that. If I ever end up having to kill one myself, I will likely wrap it in a towel or try the feed bag method suggestion.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

He was as beautiful in life as he is on that plate. Well done! I must say your plucking is impeccable. I always suck at that part. You're incredibly brave to stick to your guns on this and I applaud you. I know it was hard but it literally was the best thing for your bird since nothing else could be done for him. My fiancee hated butchering them so much he thought about simply releasing them into the wild which made me under take the task because I couldnt bear for all our hard work and energy to be thrown out to coyotes, possums and raccoons who do not care about having the animal go peacefully. It takes really bravery to do what we do

 

[3KillerBs]

Good job getting the task done.

Your recipe sounds absolutely delicious -- worthy of a home-raised bird for sure.

 

[coach723]

I make my own 'cone' out of an old plastic jug. Bleach bottle, vinegar bottle, etc., whatever you have that's big enough. I use for roosters and hens. Cut the bottom off and attach rope for hanging, two holes punched across from each other. Cut the neck of the bottle just big enough for the head to hang through. Cheap, easy, on hand. Put the bird in, then I use a pruner/branch lopper to dispatch. It's instantaneous, and mistake proof. I have a pruner that is kept just for this purpose, so it's cleaned and sharpened and ready for when it's needed. Don't use an old dull one that has lopped many branches. I also put another bucket underneath with some hay or straw in the bottom to catch the drippings, makes clean up quicker.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

He was as beautiful in life as he is on that plate. Well done! I must say your plucking is impeccable. I always suck at that part. You're incredibly brave to stick to your guns on this and I applaud you. I know it was hard but it literally was the best thing for your bird since nothing else could be done for him. My fiancee hated butchering them so much he thought about simply releasing them into the wild which made me under take the task because I couldnt bear for all our hard work and energy to be thrown out to coyotes, possums and raccoons who do not care about having the animal go peacefully. It takes really bravery to do what we do

Good job getting the task done.

Your recipe sounds absolutely delicious -- worthy of a home-raised bird for sure.

Thank you for your kind words! He was such a beautiful rooster. I hated this outcome for him, but it had to be done.

I make my own 'cone' out of an old plastic jug. Bleach bottle, vinegar bottle, etc., whatever you have that's big enough. I use for roosters and hens. Cut the bottom off and attach rope for hanging, two holes punched across from each other. Cut the neck of the bottle just big enough for the head to hang through. Cheap, easy, on hand. Put the bird in, then I use a pruner/branch lopper to dispatch. It's instantaneous, and mistake proof. I have a pruner that is kept just for this purpose, so it's cleaned and sharpened and ready for when it's needed. Don't use an old dull one that has lopped many branches. I also put another bucket underneath with some hay or straw in the bottom to catch the drippings, makes clean up quicker.

I totally forgot someone else had suggested using a feed bag as a cone. Certainly my knife skills were not up to snuff, but even though it took a little longer to make the appropriate cut, it was Still less than four minutes til death. Shears would be much faster and as gruesome as it is, I think better for me than the broomstick method and far better than the ax. Also better than the knife, for sure. Four minutes is still too long

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Thank you for your kind words! He was such a beautiful rooster. I hated this outcome for him, but it had to be done.

I totally forgot someone else had suggested using a feed bag as a cone. Certainly my knife skills were not up to snuff, but even though it took a little longer to make the appropriate cut, it was Still less than four minutes til death. Shears would be much faster and as gruesome as it is, I think better for me than the broomstick method and far better than the ax. Also better than the knife, for sure. Four minutes is still too long

It only takes me about 5 minutes. 3 minutes to catch them, a whole minute to thank them, 30 seconds to do it and 30 seconds for the heart to stop. It feels like much longer in the act of doing it. Its like the world slows down. Dont be hard on yourself that it took too long. You were inexperienced but now you've learned. You doing it with a knife makes you braver than me because I know I cant. Without that broomstick I'm useless

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I forgot to take a picture before taking the leg and thigh. I’m usually a dark meat person, but the breast meat on this bird was the best I’ve ever had. Everything on the plate was garden raised. Chicken was wet brined then dry rubbed with rosemary, Lemon thyme, sage, and orange zest, served with canned and fried green tomatoes, green beans, and mashed potatoes. I’ve felt a small level of sadness over him all weekend though.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I bind their feet, hang him from a tree then use branch pruning shears, the sort meant to cut 1 to 1 1/2 inch branches easily and are long-handled, then lop his head off and let him bleed out under the tree. It's quick and certain.

 

[Ascholten]

Stupid comment maybe since I am not an expert at all at this but know ABSOLUTELY how you feel about wanting the bird to go humanely, without suffering and may have a bit of a bond with it.

I have unfortunately had to euthanize a few birds in my life time. A cockatiel, a few parakeets and a parrot for a friend who broke it's back, man I cried on that one. i knew the bird very well and she was an absolute sweetheart, .... anyways.

I'd take a 5 gallon bucket, fill it with CO2 from a tank used for beer tappers, or whatever source you may have. go slow so the CO2 which is heavier than air, fills the bucket. put the bird in, with a hose slow hissing more in. Long story short, in a few seconds the bird basically goes to sleep, in a minute or so is long gone. No kicking, no pain, very humane I am believing.

Would this work for our chickens, I doubt they'd sit still like a tame bird would but it should be fairly easy, hold them by their feet upside down, the calm down a little, then head first into the bucket of co2, you could even put a lid with a hole cut in it to kind of stick them in w/o being able to get out so much. They breathe the gas, knock out, and then die. A minute or two later, bird is peacefully / painlessly gone, then we can pluck, behead whatever we need without having to worry about it going wild, shaking blood everywhere etc etc?

Just some thoughts, if this won't work, please tell me, and why if it's a bad idea.
Thank you
Aaron